Chinese Puzzle

Name: Chinese Puzzle
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: May 16, 2014
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Cécile De France, Kelly Reilly, Romain Duris, Sandrine Holt

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

Cohen Media Group | Release Date: May 16, 2014

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Cécile De France, Kelly Reilly, Romain Duris, Sandrine Holt

Summary: A 40-year-old father of two, still finds life very complicated. When the mother of his children moves to New York, he can't bear them growing up far away from him and so he decides to move there as well.

Director: Cédric Klapisch

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

Village Voice - Heather Baysa

Apr 22, 2014

With each of these movies, Klapisch reiterates a core sentiment behind all the romantic comedy: that lives are continuously pieced together, broken, and rearranged in different settings. All that screwing and screwing up in between? Totally necessary. Read full review

The New York Times - Stephen Holden

May 15, 2014

This warm-blooded paean to globalization is just enough in touch with reality to keep your eyes from rolling. For Chinese Puzzle genuinely likes people. It overlooks the faults and misbehavior of its eccentric characters to express a lighthearted optimism that doesn’t feel forced or manipulative. It is in love with life. Read full review

Chicago Sun-Times - Mary Houlihan

Jun 4, 2014

It goes down like a French pastry, offering no real value but looking good and satisfying a craving for something light and airy. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Louis Black

May 28, 2014

A charming, rambling, modern romantic comedy is so sloppy that it should be done in by its excesses, yet the large, excellent ensemble cast manages to make it all work. Read full review

Empire - Patrick Peters

Jun 16, 2014

A satisfaction conclusion to the trilogy. Read full review

The A.V. Club - Mike D'Angelo

May 14, 2014

It’s the best of the trilogy, though that’s not saying much; Xavier and his gal pals have mellowed somewhat with age, and Klapisch seems much more energized by New York than he was by his previous locales. Read full review

RogerEbert.com - Glenn Kenny

May 16, 2014

It’s lucky that Klapisch has an actor as disarming as Duris playing Xavier, or else the character would be completely insufferable, never mind just intermittently so. Read full review

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User Reviews

danipp

Mar 13, 2015

Amazing. It ends this unforggetable franchise by Klapisch perfectly. Now we see the main charaters of this story in New York and with a catching and amusing script, which will grabs your attention in its 2 hours length. Nothing is exagerated or bizarre but complicated as we expect Xavier'sAmazing. It ends this unforggetable franchise by Klapisch perfectly. Now we see the main charaters of this story in New York and with a catching and amusing script, which will grabs your attention in its 2 hours length. Nothing is exagerated or bizarre but complicated as we expect Xavier's life to be. I missed a little more of information about Martine but the rest is well explained after this almost ten year gap after the events Russian Dolls. Besides the story, the soundtrack sung by Kraked Unit and the funny and original editing of Klapish will entertain you. impossible not to love this film, just like the previous ones.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Aug 25, 2014

It is the third and final movie of the 'Spanish Apartment' trilogy. The story of a middle aged father and his care for his children make him to pick a challenged life ahead. The initial parts were very slow, I feel you need to be a patience. While progressing, the story development turns toIt is the third and final movie of the 'Spanish Apartment' trilogy. The story of a middle aged father and his care for his children make him to pick a challenged life ahead. The initial parts were very slow, I feel you need to be a patience. While progressing, the story development turns to be a gripping. Afterwards it gets bigger with introducing more characters and that makes a widely open story that can travel any direction. That mean definitely not easy to predict the end. I am glad that I saw it and you should not miss this trilogy, one of the best drama-romedy series ever told.

The 40 years old divorced Xavier aim to follow his ex path to the New York to be staying close to his children. He makes it and one of his old friends who has settled in New York helps him to find an apartment. He finds a decent job and having everything going stable, his ex allows to share the his part being a parent. The time and days moving rapidly, the trouble approaches him because his stay is limited as he came on a tourist visa. His trouble doubles and he must overcome soon with a solution. Besides, reuniting with his other old friend and affair are the other side of the tale that uncovers.

‘‘Those tiny initials in the sidewalk held a kind of
fundamental proof that my birth wasn't a total accident.’’

Once again the director's favorite actor Roman Duris appeared for a wonderful role and he did not disappoint. He is one of my favorites from French films, maybe because I liked most of his movies. His performance was amazing like always and definitely he was the center of attraction in this film. It was about the three things, being a father, immigrant and kind of love rectangle. As he (Roman Duris) was divorced, but being a father of two young children his responsibility is to give them love and care. Especially not to discard them like his father did for him. So he's ready to give up anything in the world. The love rectangle was not exactly a fight over each other. It was cleverly briefed, very modern with the understanding kind of relationship. This is what the movie impresses very much, the shuffled characters with one man at the center.

The last 20-25 minutes was so good, the pace accelerates along the crucial portions which gives thrilling pleasure. My rating varied from the lower to the higher while watching this movie in each section till it went to the last part. So felt keeping calm all the way paid off with a great pleasure. I have seen few French movies of 2013 and this one is one of the best. It was about everything, like, a little meaningful about being a parent, humors, thrill scenes, finding love and affections, friendship. And again, I am saying that it is worth a lot to try at once.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Brent_Marchant

May 30, 2014

A mildly entertaining romantic comedy that, unfortunately, takes its central premise -- the idea that life can be unbelievably complex, like a Chinese puzzle -- and makes it all a little too obvious for its own good. The sometimes-excessively complicated narrative becomes tiresome at times,A mildly entertaining romantic comedy that, unfortunately, takes its central premise -- the idea that life can be unbelievably complex, like a Chinese puzzle -- and makes it all a little too obvious for its own good. The sometimes-excessively complicated narrative becomes tiresome at times, despite the general likability of the characters and overall story. Unresolved plot threads, the inconsistent use of novel storytelling elements (clever though they may be) and the underdevelopment of certain supporting characters take away from what could have been a much more engaging film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

drchoc

Jun 29, 2014

There is really nothing special about this film. The plot is more about confusion than complication. The actors are OK, but again nothing stands out. The director could have chosen a more appealing leading man. The actors just seem to be going through their roles without any one beingThere is really nothing special about this film. The plot is more about confusion than complication. The actors are OK, but again nothing stands out. The director could have chosen a more appealing leading man. The actors just seem to be going through their roles without any one being notable. We can see where the movie is going halfway through with no real surprises. OK for light entertainment but no more than that.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

AliceL123

Mar 12, 2019

Honestly one of the most arrogant movies I have ever seen. This movie tries way too hard to touch upon real and sensitive topics by completely missing the point. The movie is extremely disrespectful toward Chinese culture in the worst way possible. It depicts all the ethnic characters inHonestly one of the most arrogant movies I have ever seen. This movie tries way too hard to touch upon real and sensitive topics by completely missing the point. The movie is extremely disrespectful toward Chinese culture in the worst way possible. It depicts all the ethnic characters in their worst stereotypes. The violent African-American male mob (I am not denying here the fact that Ray is portrayed as a sensible and kind character), the cheating Italian lawyer, the Chinese who are portrayed as "inferior" to the "superior" European philosophy, etc. The male white European is portrayed as the "hero" that can do no wrong, is a victim of circumstances, and who is honestly wisdom incarnate. The movie never acknowledges the character's own errors. If it does, it does so in a falsely apologetic way. In one of the worst scenes of the movie, Martine negotiates with the Chinese tea tycoons. In that scene, by a few sentences of completely irrelated and badly spoken Chinese, she earns their trust and their respect. This scene not only demonstrates a complete lack of respect toward Chinese culture and a lack of comprehension of Chinese society. It demonstrates the stereotypical way of forcing Western philosophy onto Eastern civilization and demonstrating Western supremacy without understanding an ounce of understanding of Eastern philosophy. The West will always triumph and the West is always better. Easterns should learn and are "enlightened" as a European teaches them about their own culture. The empathy demonstrated in this movie is incredibly forced and fake. It imitates a bourgeois from the ancient times sitting on their throne and saying once in a while that their workers have a tiring life. In brief, this movie is extremely entitled and watches the world with the judging, self-important and ruthless eye of the European.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mancunian2014

Jun 20, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me. Me. Me. That's basically what this self-satisfied movie was about. I noticed they used the word "complicated" a lot in this. What's so complicated about being egotistical? Not just egotistical for the main character, Xavier, but for basically all of the French-speaking ones. Yes, let's chase our cute, unique bonheur francais while thinking of or considering others just doesn't come into thought! And how much more pompous can one be having to "consult" Hegel or Schonpenauer to show how deep the main character is? A main character who has no clue how to treat women and who's got a stereotypical, mildly aggressive lesbian best friend who, surprise, surprise, needs his sperm to fertilize her barren self. It's all so full of frustration, less than charming navel-gazing and characters you want to see swallowed up by the earth or massive tidal waves. I think this movie can correctly be subsumed into the concept of holding-one's-head-inside-one's-anus-for-two-hours, don't you? Don't even rent this let alone go out to see it.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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